Deeper Drilling Ahead as Asian Battery Metals Confirms Oval Mineralisation Growth

Expanding the Mineralised Footprint

Asian Battery Metals PLC (ASX, AZ9) has reported compelling new exploration results from its Oval Cu-Ni-PGE project in southwestern Mongolia, confirming a substantial expansion of sulphide mineralisation. Visual logging from recent step-out drillholes OVD049 and OVD051 has extended the interpreted mineralised strike length to approximately 840 to 880 meters, a 30% increase since early 2025, validating the company’s geophysical models and reinforcing confidence in the project’s scale.

The new drillholes intersected multiple intervals of high sulphide content, including zones of blebby to semi-massive mineralisation. These findings align with earlier assay results from drillholes OVD047, OVD048, OVD011E, and SC11, which confirm the continuity of copper-nickel-PGE mineralisation both laterally and at depth. While visual estimates provide encouraging indications, the company emphasizes that laboratory assays remain the definitive measure of grade and quality.

Geological Insights and Structural Interpretation

Drillhole OVD052 has provided critical structural data, suggesting the Oval gabbroic intrusion plunges straight south-southeast rather than bending along regional faults as previously thought. This insight refines the geological model and identifies promising targets for deeper, high-grade mineralisation. The intrusive body’s geometry, combined with downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) survey plates, guides the company’s exploration strategy to focus on potentially richer zones at depth.

Regional Exploration and Strategic Outlook

Beyond the Oval project, Asian Battery Metals is advancing a regional cluster strategy across southern Mongolia’s copper-nickel belt. Priority is being given to targets such as MS1 and Bayan Sair, where geophysical signatures and geological settings suggest further critical metal potential. The company has completed 40 drillholes totaling 7,434 meters across multiple projects in 2025 and is preparing for a Phase 4 drilling campaign in early 2026 to test these extensions and new targets.

Meanwhile, metallurgical test work on the Oval project is underway, alongside technical and legal due diligence on the Maikhan Uul Cu-Au VMS project (Red Hill). Subject to satisfactory outcomes, Asian Battery Metals plans to settle the acquisition of Maikhan Uul, further bolstering its portfolio of critical metal assets essential for Asia’s energy transition.

Looking Ahead

Managing Director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren highlighted the consistency and growth of mineralisation as key to advancing the project. The integration of geophysical data with drilling results is enabling more precise targeting, setting the stage for deeper exploration in 2026. As the company builds a multi-target critical metals cluster, the Oval project remains central to its vision of supplying essential materials for the energy transition.